30 December 2014

Loick Peyron has won ... everything in sailing possibly. He is the fastest sailor around the world, he took over a 103 foot tri two months before this year's Route du Rhum and beat his round the world 130 foot winning boat and he did it singlehanded. Then there's more. Check him out on Wikipedia the wins are endless... Published on Dec 23, 2014

In Ocean Races, Some of the Biggest Perils Can’t Be Seen (NYTimes.com): “... Honestly, whether we’re sailing big multihulls or these supermaxis going incredibly fast speeds, you just go sort of on faith that the odds are in your favor and sleep with your feet facing forward,” said Peter Isler, an American who is the navigator for the supermaxi Rio 100 in this Hobart race. “Whether you are racing to Hawaii or across the Irish Sea or down in the Bass Strait, you are just going for it,” he said. “It’s not like in the Southern Ocean, where you are watching for icebergs on radar. There are some things you can’t avoid in the ocean, and you just pray that you do. It may not be the greatest thing to talk about for our sport, but the sad truth is, boats do run into stuff. In the last five years, we’ve hit a couple of whales and a shark. It’s sad. These boats go so fast and don’t make any noise. But the things you worry about the most are big, hard things...”

28 December 2014

Video above features Line Honors Winner "Wild Oats Xl" and First time contender and Runner Up "Comanche" entering the Docks at the Hobart Waterfront soon after crossing the finish line in the 2014 Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.

Wild Oats XI record eighth line honours win in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2014Wild Oats XI - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2014: "Wild Oats XI is the most successful yacht in the 70-year history of the Rolex Sydney Hobart race. She secured her seventh line honours victory under the guidance of Mark Richards in last year’s race. In 2012 she broke her own race record, which now stands at 1 day, 18 hours, 23 minutes 12 seconds, and won the race overall. It was the second time the supermaxi had achieved this historic treble, and the only boat to do so twice in the race’s history. Once again, Wild Oats XI has been modified for the Rolex Sydney Hobart. Her bow has been streamlined, she will carry a new hydrofoil wing, and will be fitted with two new high-tech sails – a mainsail and a ‘code zero’ headsail. These modifications are aimed at keeping the nine-year-old yacht competitive against more recent designs. Richards and the crew now affectionately refer to their charge as the ‘Swiss Army Knife’, because of the number of appendages she boasts: a hydrofoil wing, a retractable forward centreboard, two retractable daggerboards, a canting keel, and the conventional rudder at the stern... Richards and his crew mustered all their resources this year as four other supremely competitive supermaxis and their crews – including the new Comanche 100-footer from America –vied for a line honours win. Wild Oats XI’s navigator, Juan Vila, was navigator for the victorious Alinghi crew in the 2007 America’s Cup match."Tracker - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2014

Comanche lead the five super maxis out of Sydney Heads reaching the first turning buoy in 4.35 minutes. Spectacular! Published on Dec 26, 2014

Rolex Sydney Hobart 2014; Handicap Honours Predictions
Given the weather models for the race, Crosbie Lorimer did the rounds of the CYCA dock just prior to the start of the race to find out who the various skippers, navigators and tacticians believed might take out the overall Handicap win on IRC. Here are some of their predictions and an update on the position at the front of the fleet. Published on Dec 27, 2014

Rolex Sydney Hobart; Line Honours Contenders Press Conference -

The skippers of the five 100 foot super maxis battling for Line Honours in the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race speak about the boats, the weather and their expectations. Published on Dec 25, 2014

North Sails Michael Coxon Dec 23 14 3Di "RAW" Sails, the "Hobart" and predictions
Michael Coxon, Managing Director, North Sails Australia talks to Geoff Waller of Boats on TV about the present sail making technology, the future, the current Rolex Sydney Hobart and building the biggest race spinnaker in the world for Anthony Bell of Perpetual LOYAL. Published on Dec 23, 2014

How to follow the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Cruising Yacht Club of Australia: For those who can't get to watch the live broadcast of the start of the Race on the Seven Network across Australia, Yahoo!7 will webcast the program. You can also watch the same webcast on the home page of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race website: www.rolexsydneyhobart.com. On the website is a list of yachts entered, with photo and description of each boat, crew list, and the boat's performance data, predicted finishing time and standing for both Line Honors and Division which is updated every 10 minutes.

2014 RSHYR Navigators and Weather. Tom Addis Perpetual LOYAL and Juan Vila Wild Oats XI and Weather Update
Tom Addis navigator of Perpetual LOYAL, Juan Vila Wild Oats XI and weather guru Andrew Treloar discuss the coming Rolex Sydney Hobart. The 117 yachts in the Rolex Sydney Hobart will face an early test this year, with the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) forecasting a sharp 20 to 25 knot southerly change on Boxing Day afternoon not long after the start. A southerly is expected to hold throughout the night at around 20 to 25 knots so it will be a long, wet first day for all crews. Andrew Treloar from the BOM says winds will get lighter the further south the boats go, and the front runners should cross a high pressure ridge around Gabo Island giving them light westerlies across Bass Strait on Saturday. Winds off the Tasmanian coast on Saturday night are also expected to be pretty light westerlies. They could be quite fluky. “The midfield and tail end boats will get a better go from the wind,” Treloar says. “They will tend to stay up around 10 to 15 knots right through as they cross Bass Strait and sail down the Tasmanian coast.” (published Dec 21, 2014)

Cruising Yacht Club of Australia - Home of the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race -

22 December 2014

Oldies return for Rolex Sydney Hobart - Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2014: "When the cannon fires sending the 118 entries on their way in the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia’s 70th Sydney Hobart Yacht Race on December 26, two yachts will stand out, because they first competed back in the early days of the race. There is plenty of nostalgia to this year’s Rolex Sydney Hobart, abetted by Southern Myth and Landfall, who sailed the race in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Peter Riddell’s Southern Myth is a 12.5 metre Bermudan sloop designed by Laurent Giles and built by R. T. Searles of Adelaide in 1953. She was commissioned by Norm Howard from Adelaide, who contested the Hobart race from 1954-1965, only missing the 1964 race. She finished fifth in her maiden race and scored a best result of third overall in 1958..."2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Raw footage from the ABC Helicopter Part 5 - 2013 Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Raw footage from the ABC Helicopter

21 December 2014

Essence of Sailing, Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015 video. The essence of sailing: incredible footage by Onboard Reporter Amory Ross, evocative music from the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra , conducted by Michael Seal - with special thanks to Visit Abu Dhabi.

Three friends had a dream - and made it a reality. As Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing takes part in its second race, they look back on how they got this far.

The ‘Stress of Sailing’ medical study continues as these boats & men go around the world. Team Alvimedica’s sailors underwent tests as soon as they docked in Abu Dhabi.

Team Vestas Wind salvage plan: The big plan | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015: "Neil Cox has been Chris Nicholson’s shore manager for two Volvo Ocean Races before they entered their third one together with Team Vestas Wind. But the Aussie expert had never, ever been in the situation he is in now – heading to a remote Indian Ocean reef to recover the blue Volvo Ocean 65 after it ran aground in the middle of the second leg, on November 29. Shane Smart/Volvo Ocean Race “The ultimate plan, the gold-medal prize we’re reaching for, is to get the boat buoyant enough to float it across the lagoon to get it into more protected water,” explains Neil, or Coxy, as everybody calls him...."

20 December 2014

The ISAF Sailing World Championships is the ultimate test of racing skill, short of the Olympic Games itself. Get onboard with members of the US national sailing team as they prepare for this crucial challenge in 2014.

US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider: The Pursuit (Ep. 2: Youth Infused)

US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider: The Pursuit (Ep. 3: A Technical Direction)

RISING TIDE #4 - US Sailing Team Sperry Top-Sider: The Pursuit (Ep. 4: On The World Stage)

19 December 2014

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 50 Golden Years Documentary Part 1 - 50 Golden Years of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race produced to celebrate the 50th race in 1994.Parts 2 and 3 of the sailing videos series below--

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 50 Golden Years Documentary Part 2 -

The Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 50 Golden Years Documentary Part 3 - 50 Golden Years of the Sydney Hobart Yacht Race produced to celebrate the 50th race in 1994.
This episode runs for 15 minutes and features some of the controversy the race has experienced since its establishment. The episode begins with the disqualification of Nirvana relating to the incident that saw Condor run aground in the Derwent River and later awarded Line Honours title in the 1983 Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. Features in the episode include a run down of how the race record has been reduced over the years and the introduction of multiple start lines in 1986 as a result of the growing popularity and fleet sizes in the race. The episode also features some of the rough weather years, particularly the 1984 race which saw only 46 of the 152 starters make it to Hobart, and the tragedy that came in that year when Wal Russel, a crewman on Yahoo 2 paid the ultimate sacrifice, and became the first fatality recorded in our great race. It also features the rough race of 1993 when 76 of the 105 starters sort refuge along the NSW and Tasmanian coast, and only 38 yachts reached Hobart. In that race the miracle of John Quinn being rescued after falling overboard is documented.
The episode finishes with a great video montage set to a terrific electric guitar riff.

17 December 2014

Legendary Sailor: Cornelis van Rietschoten, an Ocean Racing legend | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15: On December 17th 2013, a true legend of the Whitbread Round the World Race (predecessor to the Volvo Ocean Race) crossed the final finish line. He was a pioneer of the sport and the only person to win the race twice as a Skipper.

Sailing NEWS:

Report into Team Vestas Wind grounding | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015: "An independent report into the grounding of Team Vestas Wind’s boat on a reef in the Indian Ocean has been set up by the Volvo Ocean Race. The incident happened on November 29 on Leg 2 of the current 12th edition. The crew escaped safely after suffering minor injuries. The boat, Vestas Wind, ran aground on the Cargados Carajos Shoals (St. Brandon), 240 nautical miles northeast of Mauritius. A panel, to be chaired by Rear Admiral Chris Oxenbould (Rtd), is to provide the Volvo Ocean Race with its final report by January 31, 2015. Volvo Ocean Race intends to make the report publicly available to make sure its learnings benefit the whole sailing world and not only the race. This is scheduled for no later than during the Auckland stopover (February 27-March 15)...."

Life at the Extreme - Episode 10 - 'The Island' | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15This week, the fleet experiences a tropical storm, some crews celebrate Thanksgiving while others are battling centimeter by centimeter to keep their lead. And it’s every sailor’s nightmare when Team Vestas Wind hits rock bottom and has to send out a Mayday call.

Team SCA’s 6th place in the second leg did not shake the all-female crew's enthusiasm, nor their ability to smile, reflect and improve. Check out the footage of the last and late night arrival into Abu Dhabi.

15 December 2014

Extreme Sailing Series™ 2014 highlights video above.Sydney, Australia hosted the grand final to the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series™ which has been one of the most competitive and exciting to date. Over 11 months of global touring, from Asia to the Middle East, Europe to Australia, the best in the sport went head to head in one of the toughest events in professional sailing - but this is a level playing field. With new teams joining the line up the expectations were huge, everyone had a point to make, and the stakes were high.

Extreme Sailing Series™ Act 8 Sydney presented by Land Rover in 90 seconds--Act 8 Sydney presented by Land Rover has delivered in spades for the final Act of the global tour, with the best racing of the year - and some of the most memorable in the Series' eight-year history. Watch a 90 second snap shot of the highlights above.

Olympic champion Nathan Wilmot and his team on GAC Pindar had their regatta cut short on the final day of racing in at Act 8 Sydney presented by Land Rover, following a collision with Realteam. The Aussie's were overtaking Realteam on the downwind leg and attempted to bear down in front of her as she passed, misjudged it and got their port rudder knocked off, leaving them without steering and no control of the boat. Watch the capsize above.

Extreme Sailing Series:Alinghi crowned 2014 (and Sydney) champion in the best day’s racing of the year--"It is mission accomplished for Ernesto Bertarelli’s Swiss team Alinghi, as Morgan Larson and the team grabbed victory with both hands at Act 8 Sydney, and with it the 2014 Extreme Sailing Series™ title – and Larson’s words say it all: “We’ve had an amazing season with an amazing team. To win the season and the Act on the last day in the conditions we had here in Sydney, which is the best sailing venue in the world, is a special moment that’s going to take a long time to sink in. The level of confidence that we have on our boat just made me realise I can win anything with these guys. This is the best feeling I’ve had all year and probably in the whole of my sailing career, so I’m going to cherish it.”... (read more at the link above)"

A Hero's welcome | 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race: After a long and energy-sapping second leg, the Team Alvimedica arrives in Abu Dhabi - and back into the arms of their loved ones. Published on Dec 14, 2014

MAPFRE’s Smiles | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15: A fourth place in Leg 2 for MAPFRE, and a lot of smiles onboard as the Spanish boat docks in in Abu Dhabi. “We had a very good, firm leg,” said Iker Martínez, the skipper. “We’ll improve a lot for the next one.”

All points provisional until ratified. Each team gets the same points as their finishing position, eg first place gets 1 point. All legs count and lowest score overall wins. In-Port Race results are only used in the event of a tie in the overall Race.

Leg 2 Final Stint | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15 -
This is it! The Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, Leg 2 is coming to an end. With just a few hours to go it seems like a three-way battle for first between Team Brunel, Dongfeng Race Team and Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing.

Dongfeng Race Team gives us a peek into the very tight (and very light) battle to Abu Dhabi.

A Twenty-first-Century Shipwreck - New Yorker: Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15
"... At the end of November, ten days into the race’s second leg—a three-and-a-half-week-long sail from Cape Town, South Africa, to Abu Dhabi—Team Vestas Wind, sponsored by a Danish wind-energy company, was in fifth place among the seven-boat fleet. The six-million-dollar, sixty-five-foot sloop was skippered by Chris Nicholson, a forty-five-year-old Australian with four Volvo races under his belt. It was moving nineteen knots shortly after sunset (7:10P.M. local time) on November 29th when it slammed into a coral reef, part of an archipelago named St. Brandon, two hundred and sixty-eight miles off the coast of Mauritius...."

7th World Yacht Racing Forum: "The theme for WYRF 2014 was "Growing The Business Of Yacht Racing". Topics and Speakers addressed the key issues and opportunities for the business of yacht racing. Key figures within the industry shared their thoughts and learnings and case studies highlighted existing best practice... looking to grow your profile, brand, event or business within yacht racing then WYRF and YRDTS (Yacht Racing Design and Technology Symposium 2014) was an invaluable must attend event.... " (Dec 10-11, Barcelona)

Team New Zealand pull out of Extreme series | Stuff.co.nz: "Team New Zealand have pulled out of the final and decisive regatta in the Extreme Sailing Series in Sydney to concentrate all their resources on their America's Cup challenge. Emirates Team New Zealand boss Grant Dalton said the decision was made once Bermuda was confirmed to host the next America's Cup final in 2017. That long-awaited decision had given the team the impetus to press on with funding and design plans with some certainty. The team are also exploring hosting the main buildup challengers' series in Auckland in early 2017 – the equivalent of the old Louis Vuitton Cup...."

Volvo Ocean Race 2014-15, Leg 2, Cape Town to Abu Dhabi:
Team Brunel in lead for Saturday finish of Leg 2, Volvo Ocean Race, with less than 400 miles to go.
see Dashboard/Tracker. Also: JohnTheCrowd.com: VOR(updates).

Distance is relative | Volvo Ocean Race 2014-2015: "... The Dutch boat [Team Brunel] is seriously heeling: the leaders are enjoying a good northeasterly breeze and Dongfeng are seven miles behind. But they know it may not last. “We’re going to have less wind and we’re going to hit it first,” adds Gerd-Jan. He opens his hands. “Basically, this is 15 miles. When we’ll arrive in the channel, the others will get closer because they’ll keep the wind longer and we’ll go slower.”..."

The homestretch to the end of Leg 2 is getting closer. And the word "home" takes a special meaning for the Emirati sailor Adil on Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing. Dec 10, 2014